I grew up in sleeping towns with a father who told stories of cities far away. As odd as it might sound now, Bangalore, Pune, and Singapore were all quiet cities at one time! Bangalore was known as a garden city. It was a chilled place – great weather, wide boulevards, and a slower pace. Pune was a retirement city with a university. While Bangalore had its industries, they were always in the backdrop. Singapore was relaxed, slow, and a conservative family town. It lacked the buzz that other cities in the region had. So much so that in the late sixties it was dropped as a R&R (rest and recuperate) destination for American soldiers on duty in Vietnam.
With time and the touch and growing populations, the face of each city radically changed. Bangalore’s gardens are hidden under a blanket of dust, choked by overwhelming traffic, and an infrastructure stretched beyond its limits. Pune is now a city of youth, creativity, and possibilities. Singapore has 30% more land mass and a population that is four times larger.
As I reflect in the early morning I realize that there are several things that remain constant. The softness of a gentle tropical morning touches me, reminding me of my first experience as a young teenager. The tropical storms dominate in their moment, soaking the unprotected as only nature can.
As I look at out the green of the botanical gardens and the tropical rainforest in the center of Singapore, I realize that there are many faces of Singapore’s skies. With time they have become friends that take me to places of reflection and comfort.
I have come to appreciate that every place has a unique culture. When one slows down and lets the face touch your life, hope emerges from the shadows. There is a presence that covers us in ways that are bigger than anything you or I can imagine. This morning I let it touch me, whispering David’s prayer. “Soar high in the skies, O God! Cover the whole earth with your glory!” (Psalm 57.5) Thank-you.
